Watertight watchcase



Jan. 9, 1945. 1 w, sc z 2,366,985

WATERTIGHT WATCH-CASE Filed April 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/ z z /9 Fig.1

Patented Jan. 9, 1945 Application April'28, 1942, Serial*No."440,867 .In' Switzerland SeptemberZG, 1941 .10 Claims.

This invention relates to a watertight watch case in which a crystal of synthetic material is clamped between .a'bezel made in one piece with the bases of theears and a-combined center and bottom.

Watchesvof this kind are already 'known'having means, particularly screws, exerting pressure between the -bezel and' the combinedcenter and bottom member in order'that the r-im'of the bezel made of synthetic material between them 1 may be clamped. The prior devices required a special dimensioning: of the bases or the ears where the screws were placed, because these latter had'to be made-large enough to "bear the force of compression. Theresulting thickness of ithese parts often formedan obstacle for a pleasing design of'thewatch case as required by fashion. On the other :hand, attempts to conceal these screws in the'u'nder part of the case resulted in constructions unsatisfactory with regard-to watertightness.

The object of the present invention is to pro- ,vide a watertightwatch case of the above kind and it consists in providingthe case with an exterior'connecting piece bearing on the base of the ears and carrying at least one pressure screw .acting upon. the otherpartswhich clamp the crystal. In this=-way,.the connectingpiece can be made independent of thecase and a dimension and a formcan be given to itindependent of or corresponding to thecontourof the said case. This connecting piececan even be used as an ornament for thecase.

The accompanyingtdrawings illustrate, by way of example, a number 'of Watchcases according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a fir'stembodiment,

Fig. 2 is aside view of; the. same, partiallyin section and in Fig. 3 it is shown in perspective :view,the different parts being shown separated;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a secondtembodiment which is shown in Fig. 5 in perspective,partially:taken. to pieces,

Fig. 6 is an undersideviewofa:thirdvembodiment of which Fig. 7 is an end view and Fig. 8 aside view,

Fig. 9 is an underside view of another: embodiment,

Fig. 10 a side viewof the same,

Fig. 11 shows, from below, a fifth embodiment; of which Fig. 12 is a side view, partially in section,- and of which I Fig. 13 shows a detail; Fig. 14 shows, from below, asixth'exampleof 1 the watch case according to the invention, 'of which Fig. 151s aside view.

Fig. 1-6 shows a connectingpieceofthe sixth example.

Fig. 1''? is an underside view of a seventh'embodiment,

Fig. l8 isasideview of the same, partially in section-and -'Fig. 19representsa-connecting piece of this example.

In-the watertight watch case shown in Figs.'1,

.2-and 3 the bezel l is made in onepiece-withthe ears 2 having bases 3 with holes 4.

Into the combined center and bottom 5 of the case, notches fi are machinedthe bottom of these notchesbeing' formed by a'plate 1 which is either fixed to the case-bottom or formed by upsetting the metal when making the notches 6. This plate I is only so large that'whenthe case is assembled, it finds room in an indentationt cut 'inthe bases 3 of the ears 2.

On'each side of the watch'case a connecting piece 9 is-provided, having pins ID of diameter corresponding to the holes- 4. This connecting piece has a boss ll into which a pressure screw i2 is screwed, which, when the case is assembled asshown in Fig. 2, lodges in the n0tch -6 and -.which, when tightened, presses against plate 1 andholdsthe case bottom-5 against the bezel I. In this way thecrystal I3 disposed between bezel land bottom;5 is very'effectively tightened. 'In

fact, tightening the screw l2 tends to bend the bezel I slightly in order even toapply the delicate parts of the bezel, i. e. the corners, to the combinedcenter and bottom without thereby diminishing the pressure between the 1 latter and I the other parts ofthe bezel.

In the embodimentzaccording to Figs.'4 and 5 the same elements are shown as those constituting the caseof. Figs. 1,12 ian'd 3. The'connecting pieces 9' carrying "the bosses .II and the screws [2, however, are-:made thinner at their .ends I4 to penetrate into'notches 15 cut into the bases 3' of the ears2. The height of these lat- :ter is also diminished in order'to prevent the connecting piece 9', once in place as shown in Fig. 4, from projecting beyond the exteriorof the vwatch. The-effectof this fastening is the same 

